Lake Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Martin |
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Acapulco Rock and Chimney Rock at the lake
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 Lake Martin
Location in Alabama
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| Location | Coosa / Elmore / Tallapoosa counties, Alabama, United States |
| Coordinates | 32°45′59.37″N 85°54′3.85″W / 32.7664917°N 85.9010694°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Tallapoosa River |
| Primary outflows | Tallapoosa River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 31 mi (50 km) |
| Surface area | 44,000 acres (18,000 ha) |
| Average depth | 41 ft (12 m) |
| Max. depth | 150 ft (46 m) |
| Shore length1 | 743 mi (1,196 km) |
| Settlements | Alexander City, Jackson's Gap, Dadeville |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Martin is a very large lake located in Alabama, in the Tallapoosa, Elmore, and Coosa counties. It covers about 44,000 acres, which is like 178 square kilometers. The lake has over 750 miles (1,200 km) of beautiful wooded shoreline.
Lake Martin is a special type of lake called a reservoir. This means it was created by people, not by nature. It was formed when the Martin Dam was built across the Tallapoosa River. The dam helps create electric power for the Alabama Power Company.
Building the Martin Dam started in 1923 and finished in 1926. At that time, Lake Martin was the biggest man-made lake in the whole world! The dam was first called Cherokee Bluffs, named after the rocky area where it was built. Later, in 1936, it was renamed Martin Dam to honor Thomas Martin. He was the president of Alabama Power Company back then. Most of the land around the lake is owned by Alabama Power and Russell Lands.
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Fun Things to Do at Lake Martin
Lake Martin is one of the biggest man-made lakes in the United States. It's a super popular place for lots of fun activities. You can go swimming, boating, and even water skiing. Many people also enjoy camping and playing golf near the lake.
The Dixie Sailing Club has its home on Lake Martin, where people can learn and enjoy sailing. There are many neighborhoods and fancy homes right on the water. Nearby cities include Alexander City, Dadeville, Jacksons Gap, and Eclectic.
Events and Attractions
Lake Martin hosts many exciting events throughout the year. There are often fishing tournaments for those who love to fish. Every July, there's a big Independence Day fireworks show that lights up the sky. In June, the Alexander City Jazz Festival brings music to downtown Alexander City and the Lake Martin Amphitheater.
The lake has many cool spots to visit. You might see eagles' nests, sandy beaches, and places to eat. There are also camping areas and popular islands. Some well-known landmarks include the Smith Mountain Fire Tower and the Kowaliga Bridge.
One of the most famous spots is Chimney Rock. It's a large rock that looks like a chimney. Right next to it is Acapulco Rock, which many people mistakenly call Chimney Rock. This area used to be a deep river gorge before the dam was built. The water here is over 150 feet (46 meters) deep! Thousands of boaters visit this spot every year to watch people climb up 60 feet (18 meters) and jump into the water.
Lake Martin is a favorite weekend getaway for many families. Many large, beautiful homes are located around the lake. These homes are often owned by business leaders from cities like Montgomery, Birmingham, and Atlanta.
It's good to know that Alabama has another lake with a similar name, Logan Martin Lake. However, Lake Martin and Logan Martin Lake are on different river systems and are not connected.
Islands You Can Explore
Lake Martin has several small islands that are popular places to visit. Each island has its own unique story or feature:
- Cemetery Island - This tiny island has an old county graveyard from before the dam was built. It's about 30 by 30 yards (27 by 27 meters) and is in the Bay Pine area.
- Chimney Rock Island - This island is famous for its tall rock that looks like a chimney sticking out from the top.
- Acapulco Rock Island - Located right next to Chimney Rock Island, this is the rock formation that many people jump from. It's often confused with Chimney Rock.
- Deer Island - This island is near Kowaliga Marina. When the water level is low, a land bridge connects it to the mainland. Deer sometimes get stuck here when the water rises. It has wide, sandy beaches where boats often dock.
- Doctor's Island - This island got its name because a group of doctors used it as a base camp for fishing trips.
- Goat Island - Located north of Martin Dam, this island is home to a family of goats!
- Real Island - This isn't actually an island, but a community named after "Real Island Road" and a nearby marina.
- Sand Island - This small island is between Willow Point and Kowaliga Marina. Erosion has made it smaller over the years, but rocks have been placed to protect it. Boats often park on its shallow, sandy beach. It's probably the smallest island on the lake.
- Young's Island - The Young family, who ran a ferry, used to live here. Their home was destroyed by fire. You can still see the foundation and historic markers for the graves of their children.
- Weed Hill Island - This small island is across from the Pleasure Point Marina boat ramp. It used to be much larger but has shrunk due to erosion.
- Wood's Island - This is a larger island that connects to the mainland when water levels are low. It has hiking trails and can be found at the end of Young's Ferry Road on the west side of the lake.
- Wilmarth's Island - This is the only island on the lake where people actually live.
Lake Martin Tornado Event
On April 27, 2011, a very strong tornado, called an EF4 tornado, passed through the Lake Martin area. It caused a lot of damage to homes and businesses along its path. Some cars were even carried over 100 yards (91 meters) by the strong winds. Sadly, this tornado led to seven deaths across the region. Its path through Elmore, Tallapoosa, and Chambers counties was about 44.2 miles (71.1 kilometers) long.
